Item 5B Items from the Finance and Audit Committee

The Finance and Audit Committee has reviewed the request asking that the Board of Trustees delegate the authority to settle lawsuits of up to $100,000 to the President of the University. after $100,000 different reporting mechanisms will be used to inform the Board.

Each year the University reassesses the fees associated with its Child Development and Research Center to determine what, if any, increases are needed to keep the Center operational.

This year the University recommends the increases in fees shown on the attached schedule. This request has been reviewed by the Finance and Audit Committee. Approving these increases also carries with it approval to change the relevant regulation.

This is a request to approve new housing rental rates for 2007/2008, allowing the University to use accurate rates in recruitment documents for students who will be entering that year. This request has been reviewed by the Finance and Audit Committee. Approval of these rates also carries with it approval of the relevant regulation.

Recently, the Board of Trustees adopted an update of the campus master plan for UNF. Upon adoption of this campus master plan update the Board of Trustees and the City of Jacksonville were required to enter into a campus development agreement. This agreement identifies any deficiencies in public facilities and services which the proposed campus development would create or to which it would contribute, as well as the improvements which are necessary to eliminate these deficiencies. This plan must be approved by the Board of Trustees and the City. The Board of Trustees is delegating approval to execute this agreement to the President.

The University and the Finance and Audit Committee have reviewed this plan. The revised plan is now being presented to the Board of Trustees for approval.

Item 5C Items from the Educational Policy Committee

The College of Education and Human Services has submitted a proposal to reorganize. This proposal has been reviewed and recommended by the Faculty Association, the Provost, the President of the University, and the members in attendance at the most recent Educational Policy Committee. A portion of this proposal requires approval from the Board of Trustees: the reorganization of the Division of Curriculum and Instruction into two departments.

Item 6 Action Items from the Finance and Audit Committee

Per Florida Statutes 1013.61, the Board of Trustees shall, each year, adopt a capital outlay budget for the ensuing year in order that the capital outlay needs of the Board for the entire year may be well understood by the public. This budget shall designate the proposed capital outlay expenditures by project for the year from all fund sources. Attached is the Annual Capital Outlay Budget for Fiscal Year 2006-2007.

The Florida Legislature mandated a tuition increase of 3% for in-state undergraduate students and allowed flexibility for graduate (in-state and out-of-state) and out-of-state undergraduate tuition. The University proposes a 3% increase for Florida residents at the undergraduate and graduate levels and a net 0% increase for nonresidents at the graduate and undergraduate levels.

The University also proposes a differential tuition for graduate students entering its new nurse anesthetist program. This differential tuition would be calculated as a 10% increase on 2005-2006 in-state and out-of-state rates.

Each university board of trustees is required to approve the university budget prior to submission to the Florida Board of Governors and the Florida Legislature. The Finance and Audit Committee held open workshops on the attached budget proposal and is recommending its approval.

Proposed Action - Approval - MOTION and Second Required

Item 7 Action Items from the Educational Policy Committee

An individual can achieve tenure in two distinct ways: 1) tenure decision, and 2) tenure by reason of appointment. This tenure nomination is being recommended under the tenure by reason of appointment procedures.

Under tenure by reason of appointment, senior administrators or distinguished faculty may be granted tenure upon being hired at UNF. The candidate must receive a positive vote from the relevant disciplinary department, even if the appointment is in an administrative capacity. UNF agrees to award tenure as a condition of appointment in order to be competitive in hiring these individuals. The Provost and the President also conduct a thorough review of all candidates for tenure on appointment.

Under these guidelines the administration and the Educational Policy Committee recommend awarding tenure to Dr. Jorge Febles, chair of the Department of World Languages.

The Coggin College of Business has submitted a proposal to reorganize its Department of Management, Marketing and Logistics into two departments: the Department of Management and the Department of Marketing and Logistics. This proposal has been reviewed and recommended by the Faculty Association, the Provost, the President of the University, and the members in attendance at the most recent Educational Policy Committee and requires approval from the Board of Trustees.

The Florida Educational Equity Act (FEEA), Section 1000.05, Florida Statutes, and other state and federal legislation, mandate that students and employees should not be discriminated against on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, disability or marital status. The annual Florida Educational Equity Act Update is a reporting tool that enables the DOE to monitor and ensure that provisions of the laws are adhered to, and that educational resources are equitably distributed.

Reporting Requirements – State Universities

Over the past two years, state university equity reporting was assigned to the DOE’s Office of Equity and Access. The responsibility for compliance oversight at State universities for all equity reporting will now be assumed by the Board of Governors, through the Chancellor’s Office. The Chancellor’s Office and the Council on Equal Opportunity and Access, comprised of all EEO Officers at State universities, will work in partnership to discuss future requirements and formats following the 2006 reporting cycle.

To meet the current reporting cycle, universities are guided by the implementing rule 6A-19.010 F.A.C. which outlines the annual reports required in the areas of student participation in programs or courses where certain protected classes are underrepresented. The statutory requirements have been met by race and gender participation measured on four factors:

Entry to first-time-in-college (FTIC) status

Retention after one-year in FTIC status

Graduation after six years, measured by cohort

Entry to graduate status and graduate completion rates

The FEEA Report has been reviewed by the Educational Policy Committee and must be approved by the University Board of Trustees and filed by the President to the Commissioner of Education and the State Board of Education, via the Chancellor, by June 30, 2006.

The statutory guidelines of the Equity Accountability Program (EAP) Report, FS 1012.95 require that each state university maintain an annual equity plan for appropriate representation of women and minorities in senior level administrative positions, within tenure track faculty and within faculty-granted tenure.

Reporting Requirements – State Universities

Over the past two years, state university equity reporting was assigned to the DOE’s Office of Equity and Access. The responsibility for compliance oversight at State universities for all equity reporting will now be assumed by the Board of Governors, through the Chancellor’s Office. The Chancellor’s Office and the Council on Equal Opportunity and Access, comprised of all EEO Officers at State universities, will work in partnership to discuss future requirements and formats following the 2006 reporting cycle.

To meet the current reporting cycle, universities complied with the statutory requirements to meet the April 1 annual reporting date with the understanding that refinement of the data may occur following that date to meet local Board of Trustees review and approval. A draft of the EAP Report was forwarded by the Office of the President to the Commissioner of Education via the Chancellor on March 28, 2006 to meet the April 1 statutory deadline.

The EAP Report has been reviewed by the Educational Policy Committee and must be approved by the University Board of Trustees and filed by the President to the Commissioner of Education and the State Board of Education, via the Chancellor, by June 30, 2006.

Proposed Action - Approval - MOTION and Second Required

Item 8 Reports from the Finance and Audit Committee

This item provides a listing of reports from the Finance and Audit Committee. Individual reports will be discussed as deemed appropriate by the committee chair or an individual Board member.

Budgets for UNF’s three Direct Support Organizations, the University of North Florida’s Financing Corporation, the Training and At a prior Finance and Audit Committee meeting, members of the committee requested periodic reviews of DSO budgets. Both TSI and the Foundation have approved new budgets over the past two months. These budgets were presented to the Finance and Audit Committee.

The
purpose of this review was to provide an update for the Board of Trustees on UNF’s
progress in meeting the plan of action outlined in the University’s response to
the September 2005 Operational Audit by the Auditor General’s Office.

Attached
is the quarterly update on UNF’s capital projects. It describes current
progress on each project, funding sources, and any current issues including
change orders. It is being provided for trustee review. Comments can be
addressed to Vice President Shuman.

With input from the
eleven (11) state universities, the Florida Board of Governors (BOG) has
amended the manner in which its BOG systemwide legislative budget for fiscal
year 2007-08 will be constructed.

The budget issues
described as (1) access to and production of degrees, (2) meeting statewide
professional and workforce needs, and (3) Building world-class academic
programs and research capacity will be maintained and developed consistent with
past practice.

To assure an
equitable systemwide budget request, each university has been allocated a target
sum of money to distribute among the specific issues that each university board
of trustees wants to include for (4) meeting community needs/fulfilling unique
institutional missions or other strategic plan goals and objectives. This sum is based on 8% of the 2006-07
recurring general revenue and lottery appropriation which for UNF totals $6,900,835.

If adopted
by the Board of Trustees, the University’s
attached proposal for “University Initiatives” will be sent to the BOG for review
and inclusion in the 2007-08 LBR.

The Executive Committee recommends revision of the
bylaws to clarify voting privileges for Board Committees. Proposed recommended
revisions include clarification that the Board Chair serves as an ex-officio,
voting member of all Board Committees and that the University President serves
as an ex-officio, non-voting member of all Board Committees.

Proposed revised bylaws are being presented to
the full Board for review and approval.